XMFC/Make your move

[diecastking]

Erik is seething with anger when he leaves, barely saying a word to James or the tenth and eleventh graders as he gets behind the wheel of the minibus.

However, the further he gets from the mansion, the more he realises the consequences of what he's done. His relationship with Charles is over. Scott no longer has two parents. He's lost everything.

It's all he can do to tersely ask the children to start their assignment, sending them to collect samples for James' project. James politely tries to ask what's wrong, but Erik brushes him off, preferring to brood alone.

He tries to call the mansion from the camp site, but when Raven answers the phone, she says she hasn't seen Charles all day. When Erik begs her to find him, she coolly tells him that Charles doesn't want to talk to him and hangs up.

James and him work together to produce a serviceable meal for the children before they are safely packed off to their tents. Erik stares into the fire. The dancing flames remind him of the warmth of Charles' mind - he doesn't remember feeling so cold for a long time.

"Anything I can do to help?" James says, sitting down by the fire and handing him a beer. Their shoulders brush and Erik feels a little warmer.

"No, nothing," he says quietly and takes a large gulp of beer. It's German, good quality, and Erik wonders where James got it.

"Do you want to talk about it?" James leans closer and Erik sighs. His eyes are blue - like Charles', and Erik frowns. He doesn't want to be reminded of what he's lost.

"We had a fight." James nods, listening. Erik sighs. "I'm not sure he'll take me back."

James lays a sympathetic hand on his arm. "If he doesn't trust you, maybe it's not worth it."

Erik struggles to think of a world where being with Charles wouldn't be worth any hardship.

And then James kisses him.

For a moment, Erik is too stunned to move. Then he pushes James away hard, sending him sprawling. "You..."

James brushes off the dust and smirks. "So, you want to play rough? I thought as much. Charles doesn't get that, does he?"

Erik's voice shakes. "Charles...was right. About you. About everything."

James leans towards him again. "You could do so much better than him, Erik!"

Erik sees red. He pummels James into the ground. But the Englishman is surprisingly scrappy, catching Erik's cheek with a mean right hook.

But Erik is anger and revenge, thinking of what James could've cost him, and he doesn't stop until James is lying stunned and bleeding in the dirt. "Leave and never return," he says, seething.

At first light, James is gone and Erik has a throbbing black eye. He makes breakfast calmly, ignoring the children's whispers, before packing up and putting them all back on the bus.

It's time to go home.

Comments

[guideshapelead]

"Because I want you to be with... someone who can make you happier than I can," Charles answers, slowly starting to realise that, quite possibly, he's been very stupid.

[diecastking]

Erik reaches forward to gently touch Charles' cheek.

"I am the happiest I have ever been when I'm with you. And I think the best is yet to come."

[guideshapelead]

Charles is silent for a very long while, no idea where he can go from here. He's already ruined their relationship, as far as he's concerned.

He holds out little hope when he begs "Forgive me?"

[diecastking]

Erik lets out a deep sigh of relief. He leans forward to rest his forehead against Charles.

//There's nothing to forgive//

[guideshapelead]

Wrapping his arms around Erik's neck, Charles lets the tears fall down his cheeks.

He's never felt more worthless.

[diecastking]

Erik leans in and kisses him, tasting salt.

//Please don't cry, liebe. I love you too much to see you sad//

[guideshapelead]

//I'm sorry I hurt you// Charles apologises.

//I'm so sorry//

[diecastking]

//I'm sorry I made you feel inadequate. I should've listened to you when you warned me about...him//

Erik clings unashamedly. He doesn't want to let go.

[guideshapelead]

//I'm a telepath// Charles manages the vaguest hint of a smile.

//My intuition tends to be correct//

[diecastking]

//I am only a soldier. I don't see half the things you do//

Erik knows he can't stay in Charles' arms forever, knows he's left terrified children milling around aimlessly outside.

[guideshapelead]

//I love you// Charles promises, wrapping himself tighter around Erik as he senses the other man's thoughts turning to pulling away.

[diecastking]

Erik buries his face in Charles' neck. //I love you//

There's a tentative knock on the door. Erik realises he might have to answer it, but doesn't want to pull away first.

"What are you two doing?" Raven asks sharply.

[guideshapelead]

"We're fine, Raven," Charles calls out, voice firm.

"We'll be down presently."

[diecastking]

"The kids are saying you have a black eye," Raven persists and Erik reluctantly leaves Charles' embrace to open the door.

"Yes. And we need a new chemistry teacher."

[guideshapelead]

Scowling at how quickly Erik gives in to his sister, he quickly brushes the remains of his tears away from his cheeks.

"I'll sort it," he promises both Raven and Erik.

"And this time, we'll try and find someone who doesn't beat up our deputy headmaster."

[diecastking]

Raven looks at Erik appraisingly and Erik realises she's not buying it for a second.

"Right. You want to tell the children that James isn't dead in a ditch somewhere?"

[guideshapelead]

Raven's words send a spike of anxiety through Charles, and he looks over at his partner.

"He's not dead in a ditch, is he?"

[diecastking]

Erik shrugs.

"I didn't hit him that hard," he says.

[guideshapelead]

Charles pinches the bridge of his nose, realising that's the best answer he's going to get.

"Alright. Go and talk to the children."

[diecastking]

Erik raises an eyebrow - he didn't realise he had to check the scum was still breathing.

"I'll be back," he says and goes to find the children.

It turns out they've taken the whole thing surprisingly well and that James wasn't actually a very good teacher. Erik suspects his House had a lot to do with the prevailing attitude but he won't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Returning to Charles' study, he considers the whole unsavoury episode at an end.

[guideshapelead]

Charles is back behind his desk, though he's not got any books or papers open. The weekend's taken it out of him, and he feels nothing short of exhausted.

[diecastking]

Erik can clearly see the exhaustion on Charles' face and feels guilty that he's the one to have put it there.

"Come on," he says, "we're going back to bed."

[guideshapelead]

After the few days they've had, bed seems like a very good idea indeed. Charles is struggling to remember the last time he slept properly, and he knows that's not a good thing.

"I'm right behind you."

[diecastking]

"No. With me. Now."

Erik reaches down to lift Charles into his arms. He's not above kidnapping him.

[guideshapelead]

"Alright, alright," Charles shakes his head and laughs, arms wrapping around Erik's neck. He's not going to complain, just happy that they're still doing this.